"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" was a one-hour American television program which ran on the ABC Television network from 1964 to 1968. The program was set on the American nuclear submarine Seaview in the near future 1970's and 1980's. The regular characters are Admiral Nelson in overall command of the submarine, and Captain Crane, the ship's captain. The Seaview regularly encountered supernatural elements including leprechauns, ghosts, mermaids, and various types of monsters, along with a variety of human villians including mad scientists and pirates. This episode is titled "Dead Men's Doubloons" and was first broadcast on February 13, 1966. "Doubloons" are Spanish gold eight escudo coins minted in Spain and in the Spanish American colonies. They are large round gold coins around 38 millimeters in diameter, weighing around 27 grams, and 0.917 fine gold. They contained around 4/5 of a troy ounce of gold. The Seaview is investigating cables linked to an American defense scheme. The location is near the "Island of Death", an old pirate port and encounter traditional pirates. Two divers find a doubloon at the bottom of the ocean. Later a chest of doubloon appears in a room on the Seaview. The coins are gold-colored prop or imitation coins.

The legend "1524" appears with two sailing ships.

A pirate ship is battling with another ship.

Pirate captain Brent sees that his ship is going down and yells a curse on the treasure he is carrying.

The year is now 1978 and Admiral Nelson is briefing some divers who are going to examine underwater cables.

Admiral Nelson warns the divers about sharp rocks and other hazards. The man whose back is to the camera turns around and is revealed to resemble the pirate captain including the scar on his face.

The Seaview launches it's "Flying Sub" into the water.

Two divers emerge and dive to the ocean floor.

The diver holds a gold doubloon. This coin is, of course, an imitation or prop coin.

Gold, 37 mm, 26.98 gm, Mexico City Mint

There is an explosion which kills the two divers. The Flying Sub returns to the Seaview.

Admiral Nelson uses charts and instruments to navigate.

Admiral Nelson announces the deaths and sends the Flying Sub out again. The Admiral and Captain Crane go to a small room.

They find a chest of gold doubloons and then the traditional pirate flag appears.

Admiral Nelson starts to believe in the curse. He and Captain Crane launch the Flying Sub and spot an old sailing ship.

The ship fires a cannon at them causing the Flying Sub to go under the water. Captain Crane leaves and swims to the island.

Captain Crane is attacted from behind.

He drops a modern communication device.

Three men including Captain Brent appear dressed as pirates. They take Captain Crane back to their headquarters where a party is going on.

Captain Brent shows Captain Crane his prize possession.

The chest has the name of his pirate ship the "La Reina Isabella" carved on it. The pirates lock Captain Crane in a small room and head for their modern control room. Captain Crane escapes and follows them.

The control room has computers and other items.

The captain explains that he has connected with nuclear weapons and will set them off. Seaview divers find Brent's connections and sever them causing a fire in the control room.

Captain Crane escapes the room into the water and is picked up.

Back on the Seaview Admiral Nelson holds a doubloon while talking to Admiral Howard:

"All this pirate nonsense was a cover for Brent's attempt to sabotage our defense system."
Admiral Nelson replies: "Dead Mens's Doubloons."

Richard Basehart as Admiral Nelson
David Hedison as Captain Crane
Albert Salmi as Brent
Director: Sutton Roley
Writers: Irwin Allen, Sidney Marshall